FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020

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COVID-19Suwasariya Ambulance

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PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES

COVID-19 CASES IN

THE WORLD

TOTAL CASES

9,622,338DEATHS

487,341RECOVERD

5,229,029

CASES DEATHSUSA 2,477,876 124,485 BRAZIL 1,207,721 54,434 RUSSIA 613,994 8,605 INDIA 489,877 15,303UK 307,980 43,230394

DEATHS

11RECOVERED

1,602

ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES

2,007 � Quarantine Unit

0112 112 705

� Epidemiology Unit 0112 695 112

� Govt. coronavirus hotline 0113071073

Health Promotion

Bureau 1999

For verified information on the coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any of the following authorities

THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 2.30 P.M. ON 25 JUNE 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU

epaper.themorning.lkepaper.aruna.lk

www.themorning.lkwww.aruna.lk

epaper.themorning.lkepaper.aruna.lk

www.themorning.lkwww.aruna.lk

SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2

GAZETTE ON HEALTH GUIDELINES FOR GENERAL ELECTION

PHOTOS PRADEEP DAMBARAGE

Tamil United Freedom Front (TUFF) Leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, alias Karuna Amman, left the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last evening (25) after giving a seven-hour statement.

The former Deputy Minister had arrived at the CID at around 10.30 a.m. last morning to record a statement with regard to the recent controversial comments he made on the killing of Sri Lankan soldiers while he was a member

of the LTTE terrorist organisation.Speaking to reporters while

leaving the CID premises, Karuna said that he had no intention of insulting the Sri Lanka Army or the Government via the comments he made while campaigning for the election.

Contd. on page 2

CID questions Karunaz Karuna gives seven-hour statement

BAN ON ETHANOL IMPORTS CONTINUES

The Government has decided not to lift the ban imposed on importing ethanol to the country and is considering confiscating the alleged shipments of ethanol that have been brought into the country following the imposition of the ban, Co-Cabinet Spokesperson

and Minister of Plantations and Export Agriculture Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said.

The Minister made this observation during the weekly Cabinet press briefing held yesterday (25).

Contd. on page 2

Government to confiscate illegal shipmentsz Attempts to smuggle several shipments

foiled at Colombo Port

EXPERT COMMITTEE ON MCC

CB COMMITTEE TO STUDY FINANCIAL COMPANY ISSUES

BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA

The Central Bank (CB) committee appointed to look into issues within the non-banking financial sector has received 31 complaints, The Morning learnt.

CB Director – Legal and Compliance Sir ikumara Kudagama said that he had received 21 complaints via email while another member of the committee had received 10 complaints.

“Most of these are individuals with personal complaints against leasing and finance companies,” Kudagama said.

He said a majority of the complaints were pertaining to high interest rates and seizure of vehicles.

The three-member committee headed by the Director General of Legal Affairs at the Presidential Secretariat Harigupta Rohanadeera, was appointed by CB Governor Prof. W.D. Lakshman.

31 complaints in three days

GLOBAL FUEL PRICES ON THE RISE

WELISARA NAVY CAMP

The Welisara Navy Camp reopened on Tuesday (23), providing access to essential services, while the Sri Lanka Navy is also looking at reopening a few departments with a minimum amount of staff by 1 July, The Morning learnt.

"We need to ensure that all the logistical issues are looked into. Services such as uniform issuance and upkeep, repair units, and research and development units will gradually commence work”.

Work commences with minimum staff

Due to low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the showery condition is expected to intensify to some extent over the island during the course of the day, the Department of Meteorology said.

Showery conditions to intensify

A total of 26,000 postal packs received from the Malaysian Postal Administration Institute that were stranded with illegible addresses have been directed to the destined locations, the Postal Department said.

26,000 postal packs delivered

A fundamental rights (FR) petition has been filed before the Supreme Court (SC) requesting the issuance of a directive to the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest Tamil United Freedom Front (TUFF) Leader and former MP Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, alias Karuna Amman, and enforce the law.

FR petition seeks Karuna’s arrest

Speaking out!

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday (25) staged a protest near the Fort Railway Station to raise several concerns and seek answers PHOTO LALITH PERERA

MALAYSIANS ASSIST

CASE OF 11 MISSING YOUTHS

Interim order stops Trial-at-Bar hearingsz Court of Appeal issues order

after Karannagoda’s petition The Court of Appeal yesterday (25) issued

an interim injunction order preventing the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar from hearing the case against former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.

Contd. on page 2

Prez receives final report

The expert committee, appointed to review the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement, handed over its final report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (25).

Contd. on page 2

EXTENDING VOTING TIMES

The Election Commission (EC) is yet to decide whether polling times should be extended during the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled to be held on 5 August, said EC Commissioner General

Saman Sri Ratnayake. He told The Morning last evening

(25) that the discussions were still ongoing, and a final decision had not been taken yet.

Contd. on page 2

Final decision still pending

VALAICHCHENAI PAPER MILL

BY SARAH HANNAN

The Government's efforts to resume operations at the state-owned Valaichchenai Paper Mill in Batticaloa is to be backed by the Sri Lanka Navy, which will render technical assistance to restore the long-defunct functions, the Navy said in a media statement.

Contd. on page 2

Navy to restore

CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL

The Constitutional Council (CC) that met on Wednesday (24) had discussed the letter sent by Ahimsa Wickrematunge – daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge – and decided to give a maximum of three days to the National Police Commission (NPC) to submit their observations on the allegations made by Wickrematunge, CC sources disclosed.

Contd. on page 2

NPC given deadline to respondz CC seeks response from

NPC over Ahimsa’s letter

BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA

The Health Ministry is yet to gazette the Covid-19-related health guidelines issued for the general election under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Act to enable authorities to take legal action against those who violate guidelines, The Morning learnt.

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe said the decision to issue the gazette should be taken by the Health Minister. He said

the gazette had not yet been issued, even though the authorities said, twice this week, that it would.

The Public Health Inspectors (PHIs)

and the Election Commission (EC) had informed the Government and the Ministry of the necessity to gazette those guidelines under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Act to ensure these are strictly followed by the public, and also especially by political parties, politicians, and their supporters when campaigning for the election.

Contd. on page 2

Spotlight on Health Ministry

z Issuing gazette Health Ministry duty: DGHS

z EC and PHIs demand gazette for more powers

There would be no change in fuel prices despite an increase in global crude oil rates, The Morning learnt.

Minister of Power and Energy Mahinda Amaraweera, speaking to The Morning, said that the current

price of fuel would be maintained. Contd. on page 2

No change in fuel prices: Minister

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over

the phone yesterday (25), and briefed him on the Jammu and Kashmir

dispute, whilst they also discussed bilateral relations and a broad

range of other issues.Contd. on page 2

Pak PM calls Presidentz Briefs Prez on Jammu-Kashmir

the morningFriday, June 26, 2020

2 NEWS

Contd. from page 1

Cartoon of the day

The Department of Government Information on Wednesday (24) issued a notification on several decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers, out of which a number of proposals were approved with regard to the Covid-19 situation in the country.

International financial aidsThe International Development

Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group has agreed to utilise $ 60 million, which is not yet bonded, for three projects funded by the International Development Corporation towards programmes targeted at Covid-19-affected social segments. The projects are:

y Transport Connectivity and Asset Management Project

y Ecosystem Conservation and Management Project

y Agro-irrigation Development Project Adapting to Climate Change

Moreover, the IDA has also agreed to provide an additional $ 22.4 million under transition assistance loans. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economy, and Policy Development to increase the total amount of funds to be obtained up to $ 87.24 million, which will be used to implement social security measures targeting the severely impacted sections of society due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Relief measures for vulnerable segments

A number of relief measures have been taken by the Ministry of Foreign Relations together with the Sri Lanka Missions abroad, as presented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawadena, to address issues related to vulnerable segments of Sri Lankans abroad amidst the pandemic.

y Around 52,401 Sri Lankans in 117 countries have made requests to return to Sri Lanka by 16 June 2020. Together with the Presidential Secretariat and the Task Force on Covid-19, more than 9,580 Sri Lankans have been brought to Sri Lanka from 38 countries.

y 10 flights have been arranged from 24 June to 7 July to repatriate Sri Lankans from 10 other countries.

y Over Rs. 42.6 million has been funded to Sri Lanka Missions for providing dry rations, basic medicines, safety equipment, and safe transportation to vulnerable segments in the Middle East and elsewhere.

y Steps have been taken to send 5,000 bags worth Rs. 15.5 million containing dry rations and medicines to the Maldives, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar where there is a shortage of goods and difficulty in purchasing dry rations.

y Diplomatic representations are made by the Sri Lanka Missions to meet the needs of Sri Lankans overseas and maintain continuous contact with Sri Lankans.

y Steps have been taken to provide necessary services from the nearest Sri Lankan diplomatic

missions concerning countries where Sri Lanka Missions are not functioning.

y Sri Lankan diplomatic missions have been working to identify new markets and increase the demand in existing markets in order to revive the economy of Sri Lanka by minimising the impact of the global plague.

Tax concessionary actionsA simple, transparent, and efficient

taxing scheme has been introduced for all stakeholders involved in the country’s economy, including small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs), through the cabinet decision titled “Dawn of the Economic Uplifting” of the Economic Revival Beginning Programme furnished on 26 November 2019 by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. However, it has been an essential factor to implement

tax control actions by giving sufficient pace to inaugurate business operations especially of SMEs through the implementation of tax administration actions for easing their tax burden.

Therefore, the Cabinet in their decision on 3 June approved to release duties related to all types of taxes during the lockdown period and implement such duties starting from the month of July. Additionally, the Cabinet also approved the proposal submitted by the Prime Minister Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, to provide relief measures to SMEs.

y If the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue is satisfied that no wilful evasion of tax has taken place, releasing the income tax in arrears payable on the valuation issued up to the valuation year 2018/19.

y Non-issuance of additional valuations, once again in regard

to SMEs who paid tax by submitting income tax reports for the valuation year 2019/20.

y Extension of the period provided for the bank guarantee or the non-refundable amount to be submitted when an appeal is submitted to the tax appeal commission.

y Granting a concession period for the payment of tax that has been agreed upon and in arrears/defamed in the Department of Inland Revenue.

y Suspending the implementation of injunction orders issued to the banks until 30 April 2021.

y Enabling payment and/or obtaining of tax reports of a particular tax applicable from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 on 31 December 2020 or prior to that, and consider that the relevant payment of tax/submission of the report was carried out in time.

Cabinet decisions seek economic revival

Spotlight on...When contacted, EC Commissioner General

Saman Sri Ratnayake said the EC had already requested the Government to gazette the health guidelines issued by the health authorities pertaining to the election.

Meanwhile, the EC members also questioned the Government on what action the authorities could take if political parties or their supporters did not adhere to the health guidelines.

The Commission had already made a formal request to the Government asking that the Covid-19-related health guidelines issued for the upcoming parliamentary election be gazetted.

All attempts to contact Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi were futile.

No change...“There has been a hike in crude oil prices in

the international market these past few weeks”. However, we have taken a decision not to

increase domestic fuel prices. Instead, we will reduce the tax and maintain the existing fuel prices,” Minister Amaraweera said.

He said that the matter had been brought up at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers where the decision had been taken not to burden the masses by increasing fuel prices.

Accordingly, he said the surcharge of Rs. 26, which was imposed on a litre of petrol and diesel, would be removed.

“The decision was taken and the surcharge has already been removed,” the Minister said.

He said that officials would be carrying out an assessment of the increase in fuel prices to ascertain any future changes needed.

–Skandha Gunasekara

CID questions...The Police on Monday (22) launched an

investigation into the statement made by the one-time LTTE Commander-turned-politician at a meeting in Navadinveli on 19 June, where he glorified the killing of Sri Lankan soldiers during his time as an LTTE militant.

He had reportedly said: “When I was a member of the LTTE, I killed some 2,000-3,000 Sri Lankan Army personnel in one night at Elephant Pass. I have killed more in Kilinochchi. That is certainly higher than the number of lives the coronavirus has claimed in Sri Lanka.”

He was summoned to the CID to provide a statement on Tuesday (23). However, Karuna

had informed the CID through a lawyer that he was not in a position to provide a statement that day due to ill health.

He had requested for another date to provide a statement and accordingly, provided his statement to the CID yesterday.

Work commences...“Facilities such as staff accommodation and

administrative offices are currently undergoing refurbishment to facilitate the health guidelines as well,” Sri Lanka Navy Media Spokesperson Lt. Commander Isuru Suriyabandara told The Morning.

He also noted that the Sri Lanka Navy will take as much time needed to bring in the rest of the sailors and their families who have now fully recovered and are being routinely monitored.

The Welisara Navy Camp was placed in isolation on 23 April following the Covid-19 outbreak reported within the camp premises. With the rapidly increasing number of cases reported, the Navy subjected all its sailors and their families to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests in batches.

This was then followed by the entire camp’s population being sent for quarantine. On 15 June, the Ministry of Health declared the Welisara Navy Camp to be free of the virus.

Following this, the Navy had taken measures to prepare the premises to commence regular operations in a methodical manner on 23 June.

–Sarah Hannan

Showery...Showers will occur in the Western, North

Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Southern Provinces.

Showers or thundershowers will occur in the Northern, Eastern, North Central, and Uva Provinces, particularly in the evening or night.

Fairly heavy rainfall above 75 mm is likely in some places in the Western, North Western, Northern, and North Central Provinces and in the Trincomalee, Galle, and Matara Districts.

The general public is requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damage caused by lightning activity and localised strong winds during thundershowers.

Also, seas can be rough in the northern, eastern, and southeastern deep sea areas of the island.

Showers or thundershowers will occur in several places in the sea areas around the island. Heavy showers may occur in the northern,

eastern, and southeastern deep sea areas of the island.

Winds will be westerly to southwesterly in the sea areas extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo and Galle, and winds will be southwesterly in the other sea areas around the island. Wind speed will be (30-40) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to 50 kmph at times in the deep and shallow sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle, Matara, and Hambantota.

The deep and shallow sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle, Matara, and Hambantota can be rough at times. Other sea areas around the island can be fairly rough at times. Naval and fishing communities are requested to be vigilant in this regard.

Prez receives...The report was handed over at the Presidential

Secretariat in Colombo. Committee Chairman Prof. Lalithasiri

Gunaruwan had also presented the final report to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Wednesday (24).

The Prime Minister will table the final report at the next Cabinet meeting.

The committee was appointed with effect from 1 January, based on a Cabinet decision taken on 18 December last year, to conduct a comprehensive study on the agreement and make the necessary recommendations to the Government.

The Government had previously decided to suspend the implementation of the previous Government’s decision on signing the agreement until the committee reaches its conclusions.

The committee comprises former Ministry of Transport Secretary D.S. Jayaweera, Nihal Jayawardena PC, and civil activist Nalaka Jayaweera.

The four-member committee had handed over its preliminary report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in February. Prime Minister Rajapaksa had tabled the interim report of the committee to the Cabinet of Ministers.

The Cabinet had decided not to sign the MCC agreement in its present form based on the recommendations of the committee.

The committee of experts, in its interim report, concluded that the MCC agreement contains clauses that are not in agreement with the Constitution of Sri Lanka and are detrimental to the sovereignty of the country.

The Government said it decided not to sign the agreement, taking into consideration several facts concerning the MCC deal such as its obscure manner; inclusion of clauses that are against the country’s Constitution and are detrimental to its sovereignty; inclusion of clauses that can adversely affect national security and national, economic, social, and cultural affairs; and concerns that sprung up regarding the island nation’s sovereignty, independence, and national security.

26,000 postal...Postmaster General Ranjith Ariyaratne

said appeals were made to the Government of Malaysia, seeking assistance to restore the illegible addresses of 19,000 other postal goods, and the parcels will be distributed after details of the destined locations are received.

The Postal Department recently issued a statement in response to constant inquiries from various parties pertaining to the non-receipt of goods ordered via the internet.

“A cause for this delay is the non-receipt of postal goods receivable from most countries due to the lack of formal operations of international flight schedules from the last week of the month of March to date,” the statement read.

The Malaysian Postal Administration authorities had directed a container with postal goods ordered via various websites by Sri Lankan consumers to Sri Lanka Post during the second week of June 2020.

There are approximately 45,000 small parcels directed through general post in this container, the Postal Department stated.

FR petition...The FR petition has been filed by

Kaduwela Municipal Council member Boseth Kalahepathirana.

Attorney General (AG) Dappula de Livera, Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, and Karuna have been named as respondents in the petition.

The petition states that during a public meeting held in Digamadulla on 19 June, the former LTTE Leader turned politician Karuna Amman had openly claimed that he is more dangerous than Covid-19 and also said he killed 2,000-3,000 Sri Lankan soldiers in one night at Elephant Pass.

According to the petitioner, Karuna Amman through this statement has committed offences under Articles 293 and 294 of the Penal Code, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.

Furthermore, the petitioner has also stated that according to Section 17 (1) of the Evidence Ordinance, this is a confession to a crime.

Pak PM...In the context of the regional situation, the

Prime Minister underlined that rather than confrontation, co-operation must be the key dynamic to help realise the true potential of more than 1.5 billion people in South Asia. He stated that the goals of sustainable development and prosperity should be advanced through regional co-operation.

Prime Minister Khan also commended President Rajapaksa on Sri Lanka’s efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic to save lives, secure livelihoods, and sustain the economy. He then invited the President to visit Pakistan once the Covid-19 situation improves.

Navy to...Since the machinery at the paper mill premises

has been left behind without use over a long period of time, the steering group of the project was in need of technical experts to refurbish such machinery and equipment once abandoned.

As such, in support of the Government’s effort to start off this venture again, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Piyal de Silva gave directives to lend the service of an electrical and electronic engineering team for this worthy cause.

As of now, one of the two major machines at the Valaichchenai Paper Mill has been brought back to operational condition and a group of electrical and electronic engineering technicians attached to the Eastern Naval Command has been working tirelessly to repair all the circuit-related issues of the equipment.

Apart from that, the Navy is to undertake a number of other electrical and electronic repair work at the Valaichchenai Paper Mill, with the help of its skilled technicians.

Government to...According to Pathirana, there are several

shipments that are being held at the Colombo Port after they had been imported to the country using different codes, following the import ban.

The Minister explained that Sri Lanka Customs officials have been informed of such attempts and necessary action would be taken.

The Minister also noted that the state-owned Sevanagala and Palewatta sugar factories have commenced the production of locally manufactured ethanol and that they are involved in 100% of the production of locally manufactured ethanol, which has proved to be sufficient to cover the country’s requirement.

Final decision...The EC was to make a decision yesterday on

whether voting time was to be extended or not.The polling time extension is being

considered as the election has to be held in keeping with the Covid-19 health guidelines issued by the health authorities.

However, the Election Secretariat held mock polls to test the Covid-19 health guidelines in order to judge practicality and to also test its preparedness for the parliamentary polls. “The mock polls lasted only two hours; it was a success and the health guidelines were practical. There was no issue with the guidelines,” he said.

In the mock poll held in Ambalangoda, the voting speed was measured at 2.3 persons per minute, which according to election officials, is a good rate, Ratnayake said.

The parliamentary polls were initially scheduled to be held on 25 April, but had to be postponed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic that prompted the authorities to announce a nationwide curfew from 20 March.

–Maheesha Mudugamuwa

Interim order...The interim injunction will prevent the

Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar from hearing the case against Karannagoda over the alleged abduction of the 11 youths in 2008/2009.

The order comes in response to Karannagoda’s writ petition before the Court of Appeal challenging indictments filed against him at the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Additional Solicitor General Sarath Jayamanne, appearing for the Attorney General, had raised objections to the writ petition, stating that the Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction to intervene in High Court trial proceedings.

NPC given...Wickrematunge, in a letter to the Acting

Inspector General of Police (IGP), had pointed out that SSP A.R. Prasanna De Alwis, who the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) uncovered had hidden evidence regarding the shooting of Lasantha Wickrematunge while being CID Chief in 2010, had not been arrested as ordered and instead had been made the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the CID once again in 2019.

The CC had called on the NPC to submit their observations on the matter, which in turn had requested the views of Acting IGP C.D. Wickremeratne.

However, the Acting IGP had requested more time for the NPC to respond.

Consequently, the CC had decided not to delay the matter any further and ordered the NPC to hand over its observations within three days.

In addition, it had also been the general opinion of the CC that a permanent IGP was needed during the upcoming election.

“On the desirability of having an IGP during election, the general feeling was that it is advisable to have someone permanent,” a CC member told The Morning.

– Skandha Gunasekara

POST-COVID SRI LANKA

businessthe morningFriday, June 26, 2020 3

Hemas Holdings PLC announced the appointment of Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson as Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 1 October 2020, succeeding Steven Enderby. As part of a planned succession, Kasturi will take on the role of Deputy CEO and be appointed to the Board of Hemas Holdings PLC, effective 1 July 2020.

Hemas Holdings Chairman Husein Esufally announced: “The Board decided to appoint Kasturi as Group CEO following a thorough selection process in line with our company’s succession plans, which prioritise developing internal talent. Kasturi is no stranger to Hemas, having been with us since 2002, and we are delighted that a long-standing colleague has risen to occupy the highest executive position in the group.”

Commenting on the transition, Esufally added: “Steven’s leadership over the last six years

has enabled Hemas to become a more streamlined, purposeful, and effective organisation, which will stand us in good stead as we look

to the future. The Board joins me in thanking Steven for his immense contribution to Hemas over the years. Furthermore, we are happy that Steven will continue to be associated with us as a member on the Boards of our hotel ventures.

“The future presents many exciting opportunities in Sri Lanka and in the Asian region, not only to scale our existing businesses, but also to expand into ‘new growth’ areas of consumer, healthcare, and mobility, which constitute our core verticals. Hemas’ revenues have doubled over the last five years, and we are certainly looking for a faster pace of growth in the years ahead,” said Esufally.

In a career spanning two decades at Hemas, Kasturi rose through the ranks to become the Chief Process Officer and thereafter in 2011, took on the leadership of the aviation, travel, and mobility businesses of the group. In 2016, Kasturi was tasked with leading Hemas Pharmaceuticals, where she worked closely with all stakeholders to

satisfy emerging patient needs whilst delivering sustainable growth in a challenging regulatory environment.

Kasturi is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK. She has attended many leadership programmes over the span of her career, most notably the Senior Executive Leadership Programme at Harvard Business School. Over the years, she has actively contributed to industry forums and committees. She serves as a board member of Capital Alliance Ltd. and is the President of the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry. Kasturi was also recognised by the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 2019 and awarded a position on its prestigious list of women changemakers.

Hemas offers products and services in consumer, healthcare, mobility, and hotels sectors. Headquartered in Sri Lanka, Hemas also has operations in Bangladesh, West Bengal, and Myanmar.

Kasturi Wilson to succeed Steven Enderby as Hemas CEO

Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce re-elected Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya as its Chairperson during the Chamber’s 181st annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday (25).

In his capacity as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telecommunications Business and Group Executive Vice President (VP), Dr. Wijayasuriya heads the telecommunications business of Axiata Group Berhad.

Sunshine Holdings Group Managing Director (MD) Vish Govindasamy and Ernst & Young Head of Tax/senior partner Duminda Hulangamuwa were re-appointed as Vice Chairperson and Deputy Vice Chairperson, respectively.

Further to the office bearers mentioned above, those re-elected to the Board of the Ceylon Chamber are John Keells Holdings PLC Chairperson Krishan Balendra,

Hemas Holdings PLC Chairperson Husein Esufally, Overseas Realty (Ceylon) Ltd. Director/Group CEP Pravir Samarasinghe, Jetwing Travels Ltd. Chairperson and MD Shiromal Cooray, Cargills Food Company Ltd. MD Asoka Peiris, and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Secretary General/CEO Manjula de Silva.

The Guest of Honour at the AGM was High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay. Addressing the meeting, Baglay stated that as a friendly neighbour, India has been the first responder to floods and other natural calamities in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, there

is a keenness by numerous Indian chambers of commerce for exploring opportunities with Sri Lanka, as India is among the top investors in the island.

“Going forward, there is substantial potential for co-operation in areas like energy – both conventional and non-conventional – as well as infrastructure and connectivity projects. Sri Lanka needs to look no further beyond India for a partner that can ensure ‘post-millennial energy security’. This is especially relevant in areas such as renewable and solar energy,” he said.

Baglay also requested the

Chamber to redouble its advocacy towards promoting engagement between India and Sri Lanka for further success between both countries.

“The leaders of our two countries have set out a new agenda for our co-operation – a new agenda to build on existing strengths and expand the emerging avenues and synergies,” he added.

Thereafter, Dr. Wijayasuriya addressed the gathering on the Chamber’s role as the voice of the private sector, the public-private dialogue on the economy, and the twin Black Swan events over the last year.

Dr. Wijayasuriya re-elected Ceylon Chamber Chairman

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has announced a further lending rate cut, slashing rates by up to 2% on all categories of loans.

The bank took steps to reduce lending rates in February 2020 before the full onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Up to now, its rates for agri business loans, SME loans, and gold loans have been reduced in 2020 by 3.5%, 4%, and 5%, respectively.

Sri Lanka’s biggest private sector bank, which has also launched two separate bank-funded support loan schemes since May 2020 to support Covid-19-affected borrowers, said the rate cut, effective from 24 June 2020, covers all new home loans, leasing, personal loans, pawning, Diribala Development loans for

SMEs, green and pensioners’ loans, as well as loans provided under the special bank-funded agri business and Covid-19 relief loan schemes.

Additionally, loans provided under the bank’s “Dirishakthi Covid-19 Support Loan” scheme, which is designed to meet the working capital requirements and revive operations of micro businesses whose annual turnover is below Rs. 15 million, will be provided at an interest rate of 9% per annum, the bank said.

“The depths to which some business sectors have been affected continue to be revealed as we step up our efforts to provide a

lifeline and sustain companies and the economy until business volumes and cash flows improve,” Commercial Bank Managing Director S. Renganathan said. “As a systemically important bank, Commercial Bank of Ceylon is doing everything within its capacity to support the post-Covid-19 revival, and we will continue to look for ways in which we can contribute even more in the challenging months ahead.”

Detailing the latest rate cuts, the bank announced that the rates on agri business loans which were cut by 2% in May to 12% and 13% for five and seven year loans,

respectively, have now been cut by a further 1.5% to 10.5% and 11.5%.

Meanwhile, the rate on the “Diribala” loans, which is designed for SMEs and micro enterprises in the industrial and services sectors, have been slashed by a further 2% for both five and seven-year tenors to 9.5% and 10.5%, respectively, the bank said.

Besides the launch of its Dirishakthi Covid-19 Support Loan scheme for micro entrepreneurs, Commercial Bank recently made a separate commitment of approximately Rs. 10 billion to provide loans to SMEs affected

by Covid-19, after it obtained a loan of $ 50 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). These bank-funded loans are also provided to those who missed out on the benefits of the Central Bank-supported “Saubhagya Covid-19 Renaissance Facility”.

The interest rates on home loans have been reduced by up to 1.5% to 9.75% for 10-year loans, 10.5% for loans of over 10 years, and 9% for “Privilege” home loans. Leasing, biz loan, and personal loan customers benefit from reductions of up to 1.5% on their respective rates of interest. Pensioners’ loans are benefited by

a rate cut of 1.5% on loans of up to 84 months, and the rates are subject to further change at the discretion of the management, the bank said.

Meanwhile, the rates applicable to green loans and leases that support the conversion to renewable energy and investment in other eco-friendly practices have also been slashed by a further 1% to 10% for three-year loans and 11.5% for seven-year loans.

The bank has also taken the initiative to further reduce the pawning interest rate, reduced to 11% p.a. in May, by a further 1% to 10% effective from 24 June 2020.

Commercial Bank further lowers lending rates

To support Sri Lanka’s export industries and to keep the country connected with the global economy during the pandemic, its national carrier SriLankan Airlines has converted a wide-body passenger aircraft into a dedicated cargo aircraft.

This converted Airbus A330 aircraft commenced operations yesterday (25) to key destinations in the Far East and Europe.

SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage said: “We have transformed this aircraft to allow maximum cargo capacity with main deck loading in addition to the aircraft’s lower deck cargo hold to mainly support the needs of our export industries, as well as our imports sector, during the current global shortage of air cargo capacity and to strengthen the airline’s revenue stream during a time when the air transport industry is in crisis.”

The reconfiguration of the aircraft was carried out in-house at the airline’s hub at Bandaranaike International Airport, where the SriLankan Airlines engineering team worked around the clock. The new operational configuration has been certified by the Civil

Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

The aircraft will fly a total of 170 cubic metres of cargo capacity with the enhanced 60 cubic metres of cargo on its upper deck with 110 cubic metres carried on the lower deck. The total payload of the aircraft will amount to 45 metric tonnes.

SriLankan Cargo Head Chamara Ranasinghe said: “The poor demand for passenger travel and the consequent reduction of air freight capacity in the global market have left a significant void for global supply chains. The past few months have seen SriLankan Airlines operating several routes specifically to cater to this demand for cargo capacity with our fleet of passenger aircraft. The converted operation comes at an ideal time for providing customers with enhanced volume capacity in maximising the connectivity per flight.”

SriLankan Airlines currently operates other aircraft on special cargo flights to 20 destinations in Europe, Middle East, Australia, India, and the Far East regions whilst offering capacity for cargo charter operations to customers in need of the same.

SriLankan converts passenger aircraft to full freighter

The upper deck of the SriLankan Cargo A330-200 freighter aircraft, which is equipped to carry 60 cubic metres of freight

NDB Bank yesterday (25) successfully hosted its 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) as a hybrid meeting, giving the option for shareholders to attend the meeting physically or through a virtual platform, keeping in line with the Covid-19 health and safety guidelines.

The AGM was held at the NDB/DHPL Auditorium where various safety guidelines, including pre-registration, mandatory health checks, sanitisation, etc. were in place for shareholders. However, shareholders were encouraged to join the

meeting via digital means; those shareholders also

were able to interact in a flawless manner during the

meeting proceedings, NDB said.

“The bank has always been in the digital forefront pre-Covid and as companies are looking for more and more automation and streamlining opportunities, NDB’s organisational efficiency and effectiveness was in no way hindered by the digital transformation necessary for the current situation, with over 70% of the bank’s transactions occurring via digital channels,” the bank noted.

NDB Bank is a commercial bank with over 113 branches across the island.

NDB holds hybrid AGM 2020

Sampath Bank offers low-interest business and gold loans

Stepping up its assistance to businesses and individuals affected by the global health and economic crisis, Sampath Bank said it has rolled out a host of special business loans and gold loans under its Revive Sri Lanka initiative at a significantly low interest rate of 9% per annum (p.a.)

Sampath Bank is now offering special low-interest Sampath Diriya loans of Rs.10 million up to Rs. 100 million at 9% p.a. under the Revive Sri Lanka programme. It includes capital loans for up to 120 months and working capital loans for up to 60 months. The single-digit interest rate is lower than the average rates

in the market for such advances. The bank has waived off processing fees and penalties on early settlements as well. Furthermore, customers can request for a capital grace period of 12 months on capital loans and six months on working capital loans.

Sampath Bank has also introduced a three-month gold loan at a significantly low interest rate of 9% p.a. to support

individuals and small-scale businesses with their urgent cash requirements. This is again the lowest interest rate on gold loans in the market. All Sri Lankans can obtain this loan over the counter at their nearest Sampath Bank branch in a matter of minutes. The bank is offering an advance of Rs. 65,000 per sovereign of 24 ct gold and Rs. 60,000 per sovereign of 22ct gold.

“As a national bank, we have always been committed to driving economic growth by empowering individuals and businesses. We firmly believe that we have an added responsibility to stand by all Sri Lankans during these trying times and help uplift the

economy. In line with this, we are extending a host of special, low-interest loan solutions including business loans and gold loans under our Revive Sri Lanka initiative to assist individuals and businesses. We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders on helping the economy and country emerge stronger from this unprecedented global crisis,” said Sampath Bank Managing Director (MD) Nanda Fernando.

Earlier in the year, Sampath Bank had rolled out a host of relief measures for individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic which included a moratorium on certain loan repayments.

Sampath Bank MD Nanda Fernando

the morningFriday, June 26, 2020

4

brunch

BY DIMITHRI WIJESINGHE

The human-wildlife conflict in Sri Lanka has been stuck at an uncomfortable crescendo for quite some time now, without any real solution being drawn up. In the name of progress, habitats have been encroached on and the numerous wild animals have been displaced. Yet, wildlife are the ones, when they attempt to survive these foreign invasions, framed as the villains.

Some time back, there was an uproar about a rare black leopard that was injured after being trapped in a snare in Nallathanniya, Hatton and eventually died. More recently, there’s been reports of one leopard that died and another that was injured after getting trapped in a snare in the Heloboda Estate in Pusselawa. These are an unsettling reflection of the nature of the way the conflict has been handled for the past many years.

Even though Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara stated that the injured animal will be retrieved to assess the injuries sustained and for treatment, and that legal action will be taken against those who disregard the laws pertaining to wildlife conservation, we cannot help but wonder if there is a larger issue here to be addressed.

According to Asian Development Bank (ADB), tourism is the third largest contributor to the economy. Sri Lanka’s potential as a tourist destination has increased dramatically in the recent past, reaching 1.8 million in 2015. Earnings from tourism surged from $ 349 million in 2009 to $ 2.981 billion in 2015. While some of the greater contributors to this growth are resultant of the end of a civil war and internal development, a large part of the ultimate purpose of tourists arriving is owed to the island’s geographical resources, wildlife, culture, and natural beauty.

However, regardless of our island and

its people relying so heavily on tourism, we have not been able to formulate a system in which nature comes first.

To pinpoint just exactly what it is that we as a people are missing in terms of the lack of improvement in wildlife conservation on the side of the people, we reached out to a prominent voice in the movement for the humane treatment of animals. It is none other than Otara Gunewardene, the Founder of Embark and Otara Foundation and one of the most recognised entrepreneurs and philanthropists in Sri Lanka.

Why are we unable to protect our wildlife as we should?

We posed a few questions to Otara: Why is it that, despite the clear understanding that Sri Lanka absolutely needs the longevity of its wildlife, we are still unable to protect it as we should? Her answer in short was that it has been a matter of prioritising. There is more focus on personal, human-related progress without realising that such progress does not exist in isolation – they are all connected.

She said society must understand that the cruelty exhibited is not a good reflection of the people as a whole. With reference to the more recent incidents post lockdown, Otara shared that one would have assumed the time in quarantine would be a cause for reflection and understanding

that nature is able to shut down our so-called “progress” and we could have come out of it more aware. Yet, we see disappointing stories of cruel acts so immediately after a period where we were shown by nature how it can drastically affect the way we live. There is a deep lack of awareness, understanding, and empathy, she pointed out.

Speaking on the correlation between wildlife conservation and tourism, Otara shared an experience where in her travels she was invited to name a baby gorilla in Rwanda and how Rwandans have adopted their wildlife and nature reserves to be economically profitable while also adopting ways to sustain these natural resources. She said that from what she saw, it was evident that there is a deep understanding of the importance of sustainability and conservation, and the dedication to maintain their wildlife and nature.

She shared that Rwandans take great pride in the improvements they’ve made in the growth of their gorilla population; they take care not to stress out the animal in order to provide them with an perfect environment to reproduce by limiting the number of tourists entering their reserves, imposing strict time limits on how many visitors remain near an animal at any given time, and other attempts that may not sound not economically sound in the short term for a quick influx of income but is an investment in the long run. By conserving the health and welfare of these animals, it guarantees their continued existence and therefore a continued tourist attraction in the country.

However, in Sri Lanka, we have not yet formulated a solid system where our wildlife is protected, at least in the name of sustainable progress if not for humane reasons.

Otara also shared with us an experience she had in Yala several years ago, which is essentially the experience you or I would have had when we last visited Yala for a safari. Whenever a leopard is spotted, all the safari jeeps race over to the animal,

surround it completely, and make a whole lot of noise while competing against one another to be the closest and loudest. Otara shared that she simply could not bear to witness the way such incidents were being handled now. Years ago, going to Yala was a beautiful experience, but now it is pure madness, she stressed.

She also spoke of her experience in Hurulu Eco Park in Habarana where there is a large number of elephants. But even in these areas you have people driving straight up to mothers and baby elephants without any concern or care for the animals.

Leadership that prioritised wildlife conservation

On a final note, we asked Otara what her thoughts are on the question why, despite knowing the importance of

wildlife conservation and with the DWC stating that they do in fact speak to the public in creating awareness to a certain extent, we have been unable to enforce the right mindset upon our people to behave conscientiously in a way that protects our environment.

She shared that to her understanding, it is because there has never been a leadership which has prioritised the conservation of wildlife. It is forever at the bottom of everyone’s priority list, along with the reasons to protect, and there are so many agendas that come into play when it comes to finally implementing any kind of reform. She further said there are some examples even in cases of pedigree breeding where you see such deplorable actions. These dogs raised in appalling conditions and you wonder how it is that this has been allowed to go on.

Despite having recognised the need for wildlife protection, it is a shame that we as a people are unable to muster the courage to fight for the rights of these animals at least for the sake of our economy. Nevertheless, we can only be hopeful that in future opportunities to implement real change, we will make the correct decisions.

For the love of life or tourism, protect Sri Lanka’s wildlife

In conversation with Otara Gunewardene

It (conservation of wildlife) is forever at the bottom of

everyone’s priority list, along with the reasons to protect, and there are so many agendas that come into play when it comes to finally implementing any kind of reform

Otara GunewardenePHOTO ESHAN DASANAYAKA

PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM

a doctorASK

Q I was told that my BMI is 30 and I’m considered obese. Other than general health,

what should I be concerned about due to my weight?

AApart from your general health and wellbeing, a few

conditions have strong links with obesity. Two major risks are heart disease and diabetes. It’s important to check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Plaques can build up in your arteries, narrow them, and eventually get blocked; this may result in heart attacks (myocardial infarction), heart failure, or even stroke.

High blood pressure also has links with obesity. Hence, it’s important to get your pressure checked. Prolonged high blood pressure can damage other organs such as the kidneys or the brain.

If you’re overweight, especially around your waistline, and have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, as well as cholesterol problems, it is called “metabolic syndrome” and requires special medical attention.

Other conditions associated with obesity are sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, reproductive issues, and certain cancers. Even though the list sounds alarming, the good news is that by reducing your weight, most of these conditions can be prevented. Therefore, it’s important to get advice from your doctor and start a weight-reduction plan with proper nutrition.

Dr. Dineshani Hettiarachchi MBBS, MSc Regenerative Medicine, MCGP, SEDA (UK). Dr. Hettiarachchi is a family physician and a lecturer at the Department of Anatomy and Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Colombo. Email Dr. Hettiarachchi on dineshani@anat.cmb.ac.lk if you have any more questions you’d like answered here.

ANSWERED BY

KK Collection is set to launch “Bamboo” at KK Beach in Habaraduwa, Galle on 1 July. Under KK Beach Executive Chef Sesha Fernando and KK Collection Group Executive Chef Prasad Hewahinipallage, Bamboo Restaurant & Bar is expected to further enhance the KK Collection brand and customer experience as part of their continued investment in people and talent.

The restaurant will operate to accommodate customer preference, whether it is dining in, takeaway, or delivery (utilising biodegradable packaging from local suppliers), offering premium continental and fusion menus, sourcing produce from local vendors as well as their own garden in a bid to support the local community in a post-Covid-19 economic downturn.

Chef Fernando, who began his career in the culinary arts at the age of 19, has formerly worked at well-known exclusive cafés, restaurants, and luxury boutique hotels islandwide. His years of experience, combined with the luxury offering of KK Collection’s world-renowned properties, is expected to further their

popularity as a tourist destination within the island nation.

KK Collection Founder/Director George Cooper noted: “The launch of Bamboo simply offers guests a dining experience amidst the serenity of a holiday escape. The addition will go hand-in-hand with the offering our guests have come to expect and enjoy whilst at a KK Collection property. We are very excited to have Chef Fernando join us on this culinary journey and

look forward to evolving the concept further to cater to our customers.”

At present, KK Collection is working alongside government and health officials to ensure the safety of all guests, staff, and suppliers as they work towards providing a safe holiday environment under the new safety precautions. The much-anticipated launch of Bamboo is expected to coincide with the launch of KK Collection’s exclusive events calendar with events held at both properties, featuring wine/gin tastings, Chef’s Table private dinners, Sunday brunches, champagne brunches, themed nights, etc. which would be hosted at both properties – Kahanda Kanda and KK Beach.

The new restaurant offering is expected to release menus with a unique twist and many signature dishes such as prawn bisque infused with Ceylon arrack and tuna/halloumi melts, also introducing healthy options such as superfood bowls and detox juices.

KK Collection consists of two award-winning luxury boutique hotels in the Galle area and its latest addition of two luxury tented camps – Leopard Safaris by KK Collection in Yala and Wilpattu. The collection also consists of a retail boutique store selling fashionable clothing, accessories, and homeware in Galle Fort. Designed to offer luxury travellers a decadent, stylish, and serenity-focused experience, KK Collection offers the perfect contrast between the island’s palm-framed beach, lush interiors, and rich wildlife experiences.

KK Collection opens Bamboo Restaurant & Bar at KK Beach, Habaraduwa

sportsthe morning 5Friday, June 26, 2020

Uh, the Reds almost there!English Premier League football updates: After missing out on last Sunday and Monday, and then sitting through Tuesday, and moving to brink in fine style on Wednesday, Liverpool, or the Reds, would have become this year’s champions last

(Thursday) evening? The situation was a straightforward one. Jurgen Klopp’s team would be crowned champions after 30 years by today (Friday) morning Sri Lanka time, if Manchester City fails to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Fulham, London.

US rethinks WADA fundingThe Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in the White House, US has threatened to pull its funding of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) unless the international body undergoes serious reform. The ONDCP issued a series of recommendations

in a report to the US Congress earlier this month, criticising the structure of WADA and questioning whether the country’s annual $ 2.7 million investment into the organisation was value for money, The Washington Post asked this week.

Is India ready for match-fixing laws?Making match-fixing a criminal offence will be a “game-changer” and the “single-most-effective thing” for sport in India. Who said so? It is the opinion of Steve Richardson, the Co-ordinator of Investigations at the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU). The Indian cricket board’s ACU Head Ajit Singh concurs with that viewpoint, adding that India also needs a “very strong law” against betting.

This year’s Bradby was to be the 76th edition of the historic sporting event. The two-leg competition has now been held up due to the Covid-19 pandemic which Sri Lanka is fortunately and slowly coming out of.

The first historic match between the two prestigious schools was played on 31 July 1920. This was then made a yearly encounter, with Trinity College winning it for the first 21 years until the Royalists recorded their first victory in 1941. In 1945, the then Principal of Royal College, E.L. Bradby, put forward the idea of playing an annual two-match series to which the then Principal of Trinity, C.E. Simithraaratchy, readily agreed.

1971 edition had only one legTo ensure the success of the series, E.L.

Bradby offered a Shield which was to be held for a period of one year by the winner. The series has been played annually and uninterrupted ever since. The Shield, designed and made by Kandyan silversmiths, was donated by Principal Bradby on his departure from Ceylon in 1945. It is a wooden disk decorated with intricate traditional Kandyan silver works.

So far, Trinity leads the series with more

wins than the Royalists. Only one encounter was played between the schools in 1971, owing to security reasons that prevailed that year. The Shield was presented to Royal on the result of the first leg, at an assembly by the then Principal of Trinity, E.L. Fernando.

Now to the 1970s BradbyNow, we will go back to the game played 50

years ago, in 1970, when Trinity displayed a memorable come-from-behind victory, amid a gritty Royal display, in the second leg at home to take away the Shield. In that year, the first leg was played at Longdon Place, Colombo

on a Thursday. Trinity defeated Royal 19-03. There, Royal were outplayed in every aspect of the game at home. The famous Trinity fly-half Irwin Howie, who now resides in Australia, cut the Royal defence with his slicing runs that gave the threes enough room to manoeuvre and then fashion the tries.

What an atmosphere!Then came the second leg held in Kandy on

17 July 1970. Though the game was initially to be played at the Peradeniya Camus Ground, it was moved at the last minute to Nittawela. The reason was interesting: There was news

of a threat of antisocial elements disturbing the game if it were to be played at Peradeniya. Sociopolitics interfering with sports! Trinity was not happy about that because they had never won against Royal at Nittawela before. Adding to that, at that time the Bogambara ground was being revamped.

On match day, though, Nittawela was packed to the brim. There were reportedly over 15,000 spectators. It was one of the largest seen at that time for any sporting event in the area. The air was filled with the traditional “tom-toms” sound of the cymbals and the famous “nagasalam”, or the papparai bands. The famous “Kadalaya” from Royal and “Kotal and Perumal” from Trinity were dancing and cheerleading.

Excitement from start to finishThat remarkable commemorator Bob Harvie

took his seat with just 10 minutes to go for the start of the game. A special celluloid film unit was seen at Nittawela for the first time. They had come to film the game. This would have probably marked the first time a rugby game was filmed in Sri Lankan sports history! Referee Ashey Cader was seen taking the lead to the ground with the two linesmen.

The game got kicked off with Trinity on the entrance end and Royal on the Nittawela Temple’s end. Royal took the kick-off. F.R. Sourjah took the kick and the ball went just passing the 10-yard line. The ball was held by Lalith Ramanayake before Royal flankers Javid Yusuf and Tima Lazarus.

Royal took a 6-0 lead by the first 15 minutes

of the game. At half-time, the scores read 9-0 for Royal. Then after a close tussle, Trinity were trailing Royal 11-12. With only about two to three minutes to go for the final whistle, came the most exciting moment of the match.

Memorable finishPalitha “Sam” Samarasekara took the ball

and sent it to Howie who did everything possible to give a reverse-pass to Samarasekara. He then took the ball to the Royal territory and then gave it again a long pass to make winger Kalu Weerasinghe catch it and do the needful.

Eventually, Nihal Marambe added extra points to give Trinity a victory, which is to be remembered for years and years to come. The final scores read Trinity 16, Royal 12.

The two teams of the 1970 Bradby second leg held in Kandy:

Trinity: Palitha “Sam” Samarasekara, Y.S. Ping, Cuda Wadugodaitiya, M. de Silva, Lalith Ramanayake, Niroshan de Silva, Anura Madawela, R. Panabokke, Ralph Roberts, Tikiri Marambe, Irwin Howie, Rohan Kulatunga, Roy Balasuriya, Jayantha “Kalu” Weerasinghe, and Nihal Marambe.

Royal: Janek Ranatunga, Dushy Perera, C. Weerasinghe, Maiya Guansekara, Fred Pereira, Javid Yusuf, Tima Lazarus, Dimitri Guansekara, Ajith Pasqual, Jagath Fernando, D.S. Wickramasinghe, Senaka Abeyaratne, Fred Amarasinghe, S. Samarage, and F.R. Sourjah.

by Hafiz Marikar

KANDY MUSINGS

A Bradby reawakening: 1970s 2nd leg revisited

The two teams of the 1970 Bradby second leg

After asserting that the 2011 World Cup final was “sold” by “certain parties” in Sri Lanka to India, the island nation’s former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has now called his claim a “suspicion” that he wants investigated. This was how Indian newspaper The Indian Express reported the incident yesterday (25).

It further said the Sri Lankan Government has ordered an enquiry into the matter and a special police investigation unit recorded Aluthgamage’s statement on Wednesday (25).

“I want my suspicion investigated. I gave to the Police, a copy of the complaint I lodged with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 30 October 2011 regarding the said allegation as then Sports Minister,” he said.

Aluthgamage has alleged that his country “sold” the game to India, a claim that was ridiculed by former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who demanded evidence from him.

“Today, I am telling you that we sold the 2011 World Cup. I said this when I was the Sports Minister,” Aluthgamage had stated.

Aluthgamage said that in his opinion, no players were involved in fixing the result, “but certain parties were”. Both Aluthgamage and then President Mahinda Rajapaksa were among the invitees at the final played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Following his allegations, Aravinda de Silva has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to conduct its own investigation. De Silva has said he is willing to travel to India to take part in such an investigation despite the current Covid-19 threat.

It is mere suspicion, hints Indian mediaz 2011 World Cup

match-fixing allegation

BY REVATHA S. SILVA

Administrative issues and a replacement for the post of Chairman have been the main focal points, as was reported earlier, at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) board meeting held last evening (25) via teleconferencing. Yet sources told The Morning Sports yesterday that the finalising of the process to elect the next ICC Chair has been postponed by “another week or so”.

Process to be finalised next weekThe position of incumbent ICC Chairman

Shashank Manohar is to be vacated soon and the process of replacing him was to be discussed yesterday. There is speculation that present Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly is keen on taking up the hot seat after it is vacated by Manohar. Manohar is expected to leave his position now, even though there are two more years to go for the termination

of his tenure, which is three two-year terms.“In today’s (yesterday’s) meeting, mainly

administrative issues were discussed. (It is) a good discussion on the Chair process and (I) think, we will have that finalised next week or so; just a few points to clarify,” the Indian media institution ANI had quoted a source, who is in the know of the said ICC meeting, as saying last night.

The ICC’s next Chair is to be elected next month and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) President Colin Graves is considered to be the frontrunner for the position.

The qualificationsThere was speculation throughout the

last couple of months as to who is going to replace Manohar to take up the position that would have to drive cricket’s world governing body through this highly decisive period of the pandemic and resultant economic hardships experienced by almost all national cricket boards.

For being in the running for the ICC Chairman’s post, a member is required to have attended a minimum of two board meetings and also needs to be nominated by a current or past director (a board member)

of the representative country.The ICC Board comprises its Chairman;

the heads of the 12 Test-playing nations; three Associate Member representatives

from Malaysia, Scotland, and Singapore (as per this turn); an independent female Director, who is Indra Nooyi; and the current ICC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Manu Sawhney. The CEO doesn’t have a vote in case of an election.

No final decision yet on T20 World Cup

Will the next T20 World Cup take place in the scheduled October-November window or will it be postponed? That is the question every cricket fan seems to be asking now from the ICC. Despite having as many as three meetings in the last two months, the ICC is yet to come up with the final reply on the query. It has reportedly remained an unanswered question even after last evening’s meeting, we learnt.

The host Cricket Australia have given negative messages about the possibility of staging a World Cup this year, where about 16 teams are to take part. Still surprisingly, the ICC Chairman and its management, including its CEO, still feel that the tournament could still be a possibility this year. The final decision on the World Cup will only be taken next month, they have already announced.

Who’s gonna drive world cricket?z The decision postponed once again

‘Price of Calcutta’ to enter politics

Indian media reported this week that current Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly, nicknamed Prince of Calcutta, is hoping to be the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman for only one year and then enter active politics.

“He can always be the ICC Chairman for a year and then be a BJP (Baratiya Janata Party) chief ministerial candidate for the state assembly election in West Bengal in 2021,” The Indian Express reported yesterday (25).

However, both Ganguly, along with his BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who is also son of Amit Shah, a powerful Minister of the present Narendra Modi Government, are hoping to have a favourable decision from the India Supreme Court for them to contest for any ICC post in future.

They still have a constitutional block to go for another term after this July at the BCCI, due to its constitution’s “cooling-off period” clause, which has been included to stop any group running a monopoly in the Indian cricket administration.

File photo